The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-04

Quiet Progress OF the Reform that
Has Been RepuIsed In Tennessee
and Texas

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Oct. 2.-While Texas
and Tennessee have been moving by the
method Of constitutional prohibition to shut
down the liquor traffic, Florida has been go-
ing on after the method that has worked SO
well in her great northern neighbor, the
State of Georgia: And now from Columbia
and Baker counties on the north, through
Suwannee, Clay, Alachua, Marion, Orange
and Sumter so Levy, ON the Gulf, and to
Brevard, ON the Atlantic, the sale of liquor
is now prohibited in Florida, with half a
dozen elections on hand and more in pros
pect. This practical sweep of the State by
the P-ohibitionists has been as unexpected
political parties, but wiping out the color
line In such manner as to work confusion
to the slatemakers.
That prohibition would ever be reached in
Florida was never seriously considered. The
natives are SO far removed from the current
movements in the North that they were not
supposed to take much interest In it.
The great travel from the North suggested
the advisability of keeping well stocked bar
rooms, in order that as much money as pos
slble might be retained. The temperance
workers were unknown and without infiu-
ence, and when they sought such legislation
as would permit elections by local option for
the suppression of the liquor traffic, it was
not only readily granted as the easiest method
OIL getting rid OF set OF cranks, but these
alleged cranks were permitted to frame their
own law. This is the cause of wailing and
gnashlng Of teeth among the liquor men to-
day. In half dozen counties elections were
brought on under the local option law. While
the political hustings were deserted, the
churches were filed.
Strange to say, in this land of bitter hatred
between the races engendered during the
Tilden campaign Of 1876, white preachers,
often accompanied by white women work
ers, went down into the colored churches
and prayed with vim for the abolition of
the liquor traffic. The negroes were at first
amazed, and then the amaZement turned to
pleasure when they found that their votes
were wanted by theIwbites. Colored men of
stand not "by," but ''as members of the
better classes" In other words, the idea
was carefully spread forth that 'the Lord
had made the people one"
The liquor men, on the other hanu, relied
on the want of interest among the natives,
the "cupidity of the Yankee settlers" and
the well-known love of the negro for liquor
to defeat prohibition. They introduced the
Texas letter to Jefferson Davis to influence
the ex.Confederates, but this was Offset by
Hamilton county, in which he declared that
W,hile opposed to State prohibition, he be-
ileved In the right of every community act
Ing for itself to remove nuisances and to pro-
mote local order.
:. AS the elections passed off, one by one, the
liquor men were treated to series of sur
prises. Three counties only failed to give a
dry majority. Other elections are rapidly
coming on. The last great fight will be in
Jacksonville. The liquor element in Jack
s0nville in strong and influential, but it has
played disastrous part in local politics.
The poldness of the gambling houses has
called down on several occasions the indig,
nation Of the people. They are tired of the
efforts of the whiskey ring and its peculiar
allies, to gain and hold power, and will vote
for anything which will cripple the enemy.
When jacksonville shall have been reduced.
Florida will still be marshy enough but ex
ceedingly dry to a man who wants drink,